Netanyahu under fire after Israeli troops kill 3 hostages held in Gaza

An initial inquiry says the hostages were waving a white flag, and one called for help in Hebrew when they were killed

Criticism of Benjamin Netanyahu for not acting with urgency to free hostages held by Hamas is rising as details emerge about the shooting deaths of three Israeli captives at the hands of the nation's military during fighting in the Gaza Strip.

Protests started on Saturday outside the nation's military headquarters, and a major demonstration is planned for Tel Aviv later. The premier is taking heat for what's been termed inaction on securing a new prisoner exchange deal, two weeks after a brief cease-fire ended.

The military on Friday identified the three hostages killed in Shejaiya, an eastern suburb of Gaza City, as Yotam Haim and Alon Shamriz, abducted from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, and Samer Al-Talalka, abducted from nearby Kibbutz Nir Am.

An Israeli military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to brief reporters in line with military regulations, said it was likely that the hostages had been abandoned by their militant captors or had escaped.

A soldier saw the hostages emerging tens of metres from Israeli forces on Friday in Shejaiya, an area of intense combat in northern Gaza where Hamas militants operate in civilian attire and use deception tactics, the official said.